PERMITS, IN PLAIN WORDS

How high can my fence be?

Most standard fences fall into a few simple height rules. Here's what applies to side, rear, front and corner fences in Victoria — and when permits or council approval come into play.

SIDE + REAR2.0m FRONT1.5m CORNER1.0m

Standard maximums without a building permit, subject to planning controls.

The 3 heights you need to know

SIDE + REAR

2.0m

Standard side and rear boundary fences can generally be up to 2m without a building permit, subject to applicable planning controls.

FRONT

1.5m

A front fence within 3m of the street is generally limited to 1.5m on ordinary streets, although different limits can apply depending on the road and planning scheme.

On a main road in a Road Zone Category 1, the standard front fence height is 2m.

CORNER

1.0m

Within 9m of a street intersection, the standard maximum is generally 1m.

It's a sight-line rule, so drivers can see around the corner. That's why it applies to the whole 9 metres, not just the tip.

BRICK OR MASONRY FRONT OR SIDE FENCE

1.2m300mm lower than the same fence in timber.

Where each height applies

A standard block and a corner block, from above.

STANDARD BLOCK

1.5m within 3m of the street2.0m side and rear

CORNER BLOCK

1.0m within 9m of the intersection1.5m front fence (within 3m of the front street)2.0m side and rear

Check your fence

Tell us where the fence is and how high you want it. We'll help you understand which rule applies.

WHERE IS THE FENCE?

HOW HIGH DO YOU WANT IT?

Pick where the fence is and how high you want it.

Brick or masonry? The standard limit is 1.2m.

These are general Victorian rules. Planning schemes, overlays, road classifications, retaining walls and other site conditions can change the requirements.

Do I need a building permit?

Not usually, for a standard fence. A timber paling or COLORBOND fence built within the standard heights generally doesn't need one, which is why most boundary fences in Melbourne go up without any paperwork.

STANDARD FENCE

WITHIN THE STANDARD HEIGHT LIMITS?

YES

Usually no building permit

Permit or approval may be required

SITUATIONS THAT MAY NEED A PERMIT

↑Side or rear fence over 2m

↑Front fence over 1.5m on an ordinary street

↑Over 1m within 9m of a street intersection

↑Masonry fence over 1.2m

↑Retaining wall on or beside a title boundary, or over an easement

↑Other site-specific circumstances, such as an overlay

A permit isn't a refusal. It's a cost and a few weeks, and it's worth knowing before you fall in love with a 1.8 metre front fence.

What if you want a taller front fence?

If your front fence goes above the height for your street, the Building Regulations say the report and consent of the relevant council must be obtained before a building permit can be issued.

Check the rule

Confirm the standard height for your street and whether a planning scheme or overlay changes it.

Report + consent

Where required, council considers the proposed fence and relevant circumstances. You set out what you want to build and why it's reasonable. It's the council you apply to, not your building surveyor.

Building permit

A building permit may then be required. The surveyor can't issue it until the council has consented.

≠

Report and consent is not a planning permit, and it isn't an automatic no. It's a council consent under the Building Regulations that comes before the building permit.

WHAT COUNCILS WEIGH UP, PER THE MINISTER'S GUIDELINE

Noise

Whether the fence is needed to cut noise from the road.

Streetscape

Whether the height would disrupt the streetscape.

Neighbourhood character

Whether it fits the character objectives in the planning scheme.

Nearby front fences

The prevailing heights, setbacks and design of front fences nearby.

Slope

Whether the slope of your block reduces the effective height.

Retaining walls

Whether an existing retaining wall reduces the effective height.

Things that can change the answer

Planning scheme

Your local planning scheme can affect the applicable front-fence height and requirements.

The regulation defers to the planning scheme where one applies. That's a two-minute question to the council counter.

Heritage overlay

A heritage overlay can introduce separate planning requirements.

Constructing a fence in a heritage overlay needs a planning permit under Clause 43.01-1 of the scheme — a separate process from the building rules, and it applies regardless of height.

SEPARATE RULES

Pool fence?

Pool barriers follow a different regulatory regime. Tell us before quoting if your fence will also act as a pool barrier.

They have their own standard and their own inspection and registration requirements. None of the heights on this page apply to them.

Frequently asked questions

How high can a fence be between neighbours in Victoria?

Two metres on a side or rear boundary without a building permit. Higher is possible, it just needs a permit.

How high can my front fence be?

1.5 metres within 3 metres of the street, or 2 metres if you're on a main road in a Road Zone Category 1. Above that you need your council's report and consent, then a permit.

Do I need council approval for a fence in Victoria?

Not for a standard boundary fence inside the heights above. You need it for anything taller, for masonry over 1.2 metres, and for any fence in a heritage overlay.

What's the fence height limit on a corner block?

One metre within 9 metres of the intersection of the title boundaries.

Does a sloping block change the height?

It can change how the fence reads from the street, and councils are directed to consider exactly that when they assess a front fence. It doesn't change the measured height.

KEEP READING

Your Neighbour's Half→ Fences on Council Land→ Fence Calculator→ Timber Paling Fencing→ COLORBOND Fencing→ Retaining Wall Permits→

Not sure which rule applies to your fence?

Tell us where the fence sits and how high you want it. We'll check the relevant requirements as part of your quote.

CHECK MY FENCE HEIGHT → GET A FENCE QUOTE →